Municipal schools receive donation of technological tools from the South Korean Embassy

The Joaquim Abílio Borges GET, in Humaitá, will be one of the beneficiaries of the technological tools - Rafael Catarcione/City Hall of Rio

The Rio de Janeiro City Hall, through the Municipal Department of Education, signed a Financial Cooperation Agreement with the South Korean Embassy on Wednesday (April 17). The partnership was signed between the president of the Rio G4 Committee, Lucas Padilha, who represented Mayor Eduardo Paes, the Korean ambassador Lim Ki-Mo and the Secretary of Education, Renan Ferreirinha. The ceremony was held at the Joaquim Abílio Borges Educational and Technological Gymnasium (GET) in Humaitá.

The memorandum of understanding provides for investments of R$2,4 million in technological tools. The resources will be used to purchase multimedia projectors, TVs, notebooks, cell phones, 3D printers, laser cutting machines and air conditioning units, benefiting more than a thousand students.

– South Korea, an important democracy in the world, was a country that invested in science, technology and innovation in public education a long time ago. And today it is a country that can help Brazil, a country that had an education situation very similar to ours and very big challenges. But also a lot of potential. There could not be a better partner to start encouraging international cooperation and cooperation with companies to reach the GETs. It is with this good partner that we started – said Lucas Padilha.

Korean Ambassador Lim Ki-Mo highlighted the importance of the partnership with Rio City Hall.

– It is with great joy that I celebrate this partnership between Rio and Korea for the development of Technological Educational Gymnasiums. I am happy that we can deepen this friendship. In today’s ever-changing society, it is essential to use technology in education. Korea places great emphasis on education and technology. I hope that the tools to be delivered to each school will help in the development of digital education, allowing more students to enjoy and experience the joy of learning. This contribution will consist of products produced by Korean companies in Brazil. I hope that this project will mark the beginning of a partnership based on friendship between Rio and Korea. I believe that education is not a preparation for life, it is life itself.

Three schools will receive the materials, all of which have already been transformed into GETs, an innovative teaching model. In addition to GET Joaquim Abílio Borges, the GETs Tarsila do Amaral, in Irajá, and Lucio de Mendonça, in Anchieta, were selected.

GET follows the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) approach and aims to enhance the development of new skills and abilities by offering students the possibility of carrying out interdisciplinary projects beyond the textbook. The schools have maker labs. Everything so that students can develop.

– I am certain that with this partnership with the South Korean Embassy and companies we will have a lot to gain in terms of the future. What is at stake is what you want to invest in your future. And we want to send a very clear message: studying is worth it. If you invest in knowledge, in studies, in GET, which is the most innovative education model in our country, we will help you achieve great things in your lives. In the 50s, South Korea and Brazil were at very similar levels in education. South Korea made a decades-long choice to invest in education, innovation and technology. And today it is reaping results that inspire us greatly – said Renan Ferreirinha.

The municipal network already has more than 100 Technological Educational Gymnasiums, serving more than 50 thousand students, and with a forecast of reaching 200 units of this new school model by the end of 2024. Students of all ages and from all regions of the city are served.

In addition to the city of Rio de Janeiro, the Korean embassy has already donated equipment to municipal schools in Manacapuru (AM), Belém (PA) and Boa Vista (RR).